Foundry mold squeezing apparatus



FOUNDRY MOLD SQUEEZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1959 Fig.l.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 17, 1961 E. N. M WITHEY 2,968,073

FOUNDRY MOLD SQUEEZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

INVENTOR Ernest N. McWithey United States Patent 2,968,073 FOUNDRY MOLD SQUEEZING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1959, S81- No. 839,793

1 Claim. 01. 22-42 This invention relates to foundry mold squeezing apparatus, that is to say, to apparatus used in the preparation of foundry molds which are made out of finely divided mold forming material which is disposed against a pattern, normally within a flask, and squeezed or pressed against the pattern to form a mold for the casting of an article, the mold after being thus squeezed or compressed being stripped from the pattern and being adapted to receive molten material to form the casting.

Squeezing apparatus for squeezing or pressing the mold forming material against the pattern during formation of the mold has long been standard in foundries. Sometimes the squeezing is done in conjunction with jolting of the flask containing the pattern and mold forming mate rial; however, the present invention is concerned with the squeezing of the mold forming material against the pattern Whether or not it is jolted.

Squeezing apparatus of the type above referred to includes a base for receiving the flask with the pattern and mold forming material therein, a head mounted for movement toward and away from the base and a squeeze plate applied to the head so that when the head is moved toward the base upon which a flask with a pattern and mold forming material therein is disposed the squeeze plate will engage the mold forming material and squeeze or press it against the pattern to consolidate the mold forming material and form a mold suitable for receiving molten material for casting. The squeeze plate carries on its under surface what are commonly referred to in the art as squeeze blocks which are protuberances of such size and shape and so positioned as to conform in a general way to the pattern to bring about even squeezing of the mold forming material against all portions of the pattern. It a flat squeeze plate were used to squeeze mold forming material against a pattern having certain portions protruding relatively to other portions the mold forming material might not be compressed with sufiicient evenness to insure production of a sound casting. Hence it is necessary to have a special squeeze plate for each pattern or substantially so. This means that every time a different pattern is used the squeeze plate must be removed and another squeeze plate conforming to the new pattern substituted for it. Heretofore the squeeze plates have been clamped to the squeeze head by clamping means requiring some time and effort to manipulate re- 'sulting in undesirable loss of time and labor'cost in changing squeeze plates. 7

I have devised foundry mold squeezing apparatus obviating the disadvantages of the apparatus above referred to and providing for the virtually instantaneous changing of squeeze plates. I utilize vacuum for holding each squeeze plate to the squeeze head. Breaking of the vacuum instantly releases the squeeze plate so that it may be removed and another squeeze plate put in place against the squeeze head whereupon the vacuum is reapplied and the new plate thus fastened in place to the head.

I provide, in foundry mold squeezing apparatus for squeezing or pressing finely divided mold forming mate rial against a pattern during the formation of a foundry mold out of said material, a head, means for mounting the head for movement toward and away from the pattern and for forcing the head under pressure in the direction toward the pattern, asqueeze plate for squeezing or pressing the mold forming material against the pattern when the head is forced toward the pattern, the squeeze plate having thereon squeezing means shaped conformably to the pattern, and vacuum means for holding the squeeze plate in place on the squeeze head. I preferably provide safety means appliable when the squeeze plate is in place on the squeeze head holding the squeeze plate against falling from the squeeze head in the event of failure of the vacuum source.

I preferably provide a source of vacuum, a connection from said source through the squeeze head to the surface of the head opposed to the squeeze plate and means for opening and closing the connection. desirably surrounds the connection and is disposed between the opposed surfaces of the head and squeeze plate. Spacing means may be disposed between the opposed surfaces of the head and squeeze plate insuring predetermined relative positioning thereof upon compression of the sealing gasket through application of vacuum. Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross-section of foundry mold squeezing apparatus;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the squeeze head taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 3, the squeeze plate not being shown;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view to enlarged scale of the squeeze head taken on the line III--III of Fig ure 2 and showing the squeeze plate in juxtaposition to but out of contact with the squeeze head;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view to enlarged scale taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2, the squeeze plate being shown in juxtaposition to but out of contact with the squeeze head as in Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view to further enlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 4 but with the squeeze plate applied to the squeeze head; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my foundry mold squeezing apparatus may comprise a base 2 upon which is adapted to be disposed a flask 3 containing a pattern 4 upon which is disposed finely divided mold forming material 5. A squeeze head 6 is carried by a piston 7 operating in a vertically oriented cylinder 8 so that the squeeze head may be moved up and down or toward and away from the base 2 which carries the flask 3 with the pattern 4 and finely divided mold form'- ing material 5 therein to enable the squeeze head to press the mold forming material against the pattern 4 to com- .pact and consolidate the material and form a mold to receive molten material in casting.

At the bottom or lower face of the squeeze head 6 is a vacuum plate 9 which may either be an integral part I of the head 6. If the vacuum plate 9 is separate from A sealing gasket the head 6 a sealing gasket 13 is disposed between the vacuum plate and head to seal the port 10 to the passage 11 as shown in Figures 2 and S. A pipe 14 extends from the passage 11 to a source of vacuum (not shown) which may be a vacuum pump of any suitable form. A con trol valve is interposed between the pipe 14 and the source of vacuum whereby vacuum may be applied to the port 10 or shut off as may be desired. For example, a valve may be employed which in one position connects the port 19 to the source of vacuum and in another position vents the port 10 to the atmosphere.

There is shown a squeeze plate 15 having thereon one or more so-called squeeze blocks 16 which are variously shaped and sized projections or protuberances extending downwardly from the squeeze plate to conform to the shape of the pattern with which the squeeze plate is being used as above explained. A sealing gasket 17 between the vacuum plate 9 and the squeeze plate 15 surrounds the port 14) and effects a seal between the vacuum plate and squeeze plate when vacuum is applied whereby the vacuum is effective for holding the squeeze plate in place against the vacuum plate. If desired spacing means shown as in the form of pads 18 may be provided between the vacuum plate and squeeze plate and positioning means such as positioning or dowel pins and cooperating pin receiving sockets may also be provided between the vacuum plate and squeeze plate to insure predetermined relative positioning of the squeeze plate and vacuum plate upon application of vacuum through the port 10.

In the drawings the squeeze plate 15 is shown as being provided with dowel pins 31 adapted to enter receiving sockets 32 in the vacuum plate 9, the dowel pins and sockets being predeterminedly relatively positioned and of such relative size that each pin has a guiding fit in its mating socket when the squeeze plate is applied to the vacuum plate, thus assuring proper centering of the squeeze plate upon the vacuum plate.

When vacuum is applied the gasket 17 is compressed and when a certain degree of vacuum is applied the gasket may be compressed sufficiently that the spacing pads 18 perform the function of relatively positioning the squeeze plate and vacuum plate. In Figure the degree of vacuum shown as being applied is insufficient to compress the gasket 17 to the point at which the spacing pads 18 are effective for determining the spacing between the vacuum plate and squeeze plate. The gasket 17 and the spacing pads 18 may be carried by the vacuum plate 9 by being adhesively connected thereto.

Thus a squeeze plate may be virtually instantaneously applied to the squeeze head by placing it against the vacuum plate as shown in Figure 5 and applying vacuum to the port 10. By the same token the squeeze plate is virtually instantaneously released by cutting off the vacuum and venting the port to the atmosphere. Much time and labor in manipulating clamps are eliminated.

In the form shown in the drawings the squeeze plate overlies the flask 3. In other forms the squeeze plate may enter the flask.

I provide safety means appliable when the squeeze plate is in place on the squeeze head holding the squeeze plate. against falling from the squeeze head in the event of failure of the vacuum source. In Figures 2-5 is shown a cylinder 19 mounted on the side of the squeeze head.

The structure is duplicated at opposite sides of the squeeze head. A piston 20 operating in the cylinder 19 has piston rods 21 extending from opposite ends of the cylinder each carrying a slide 22 (see Figure 3). The squeeze plate 15 has lips 23, two at each of the two opposed edges thereof. When the squeeze plate is applied to the squeeze head the slides 22 are offset horizontally from the lips 23 as shown in Figure 3. Upon application of the squeeze plate the piston 20 in the cylinder 19 is operated to move the slides 22 to the right into position under the lips 23 as shown in chain lines in Figure 3, thus holding the squeeze plate against falling from the squeeze head in the event of failure of the vacuum source. The time required to render the safety means operative and inoperative is only the time required for the piston 20 to move in the cylinder 19 when the valve controlling fluid to the cylinder is operated, probably about one second.

In Figure 6 is shown an alternative form of safety means. A cylinder 24 is trunnioned to the squeeze head 6' at 25. A piston operates in the cylinder and carries a piston rod 26 pivotally connected at 27 to a latch 28 pivoted to the head 29 and having a jaw 30 adapted when the safety means is operative to underlie an edge portion of the squeeze plate 15 as shown in Figure 6. When the piston in the cylinder 24 is moved toward the right viewing Figure 6 the latch 28 is turned in the clockwise direction about its pivot 29 to the position shown in chain lines and the squeeze plate is released. The latching structure is duplicated at opposite edges of the apparatus. The time required for its operation is the same as that required for operation of the safety means shown in Figures 2-5. Spacing and guiding means such as a gasket, pads, dowel pins and mating sockets may be provided in the structure of Figure 6 as in the structure of Figures 1-5 although not illustrated in Figure 6.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

in foundry mold squeezing apparatus for squeezing or pressing finely divided mold forming material against a pattern during the formation of a foundry mold out of said material, a head, means for mounting the head for movement toward and away from the pattern and for forcing the head under pressure in the direction toward the pattern, a squeeze plate for squeezing or "pressing the mold forming material against the pattern when the head is forced toward the pattern, the squeeze plate having thereon squeezing means shaped conformably to the pattern, vacuum means for holding the squeeze plate in place on the squeeze head and safety means appliable when the squeeze plate is in place on the squeeze head having means underlying the squeeze plate positively insuring holding the squeeze plate against falling from the squeeze head in the event of failure of the vacuum source.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,664 Sudziarski Mar. 23, 1954 2,847,735 Butler Aug. 19, 1958 2,863,193 Baron Dec. 9, 1958 

